Pick a Day

27 APRIL

In Music History

2023 In Amsterdam, Metallica launch their M72 Tour, with each stop a weekend of two shows with different setlists and opening acts.

2016 Beyoncé kicks off her Formation tour with a show in Miami. Her first solo stadium tour, it features new tracks from her album Lemonade and new takes on many of her old hits.

2014 BBC Radio Devon DJ David Lowe (not to be confused with the composer of the same name), plays an early version of "The Sun Has Got His Hat On" on his program, which results in his resignation due to the racial slurs in the lyrics.

2012 Bob Dylan receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor awarded to a United States civilian citizen, from US President Barack Obama. Dylan is only the 29th musician to receive the award; previous recipients include Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Irving Berlin.

2009 Pearl Jam bass player Jeff Ament is robbed outside the Atlanta studio where the band is recording. Thieves steal cash and equipment in the attack, which is reported by Rolling Stone.

2008 Prince makes the crowd go crazy by covering Radiohead during an epic headlining set after being a last-minute addition to the Coachella Festival.

2008 A nearly naked photo of 15-year-old Miley Cyrus makes the entertainment news when it appears in Vanity Fair. Shot by Annie Leibovitz, the photo is more tasteful than scandalous, revealing Miley's back but not much else. Cyrus, under contract with Disney, later claims she was coerced into taking the photo.

2007 Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich dies at age 80 of intestinal cancer.

2006 62-year-old Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones falls out of a palm tree while vacationing in Fiji and goes to the hospital with a concussion, creating a rare news event on the island.

2004 Elton John publicly responds to American Idol's snub of Jennifer Hudson by declaring the call-in voters "incredibly racist."

2002 Hillous Butrum (bass player for Hank Williams' backing band, Drifting Cowboys) dies at age 74.

2000 Vicki Sue Robinson, who had a disco hit with "Turn The Beat Around," dies of cancer at age 45.

1999 Songs From Dawson's Creek is released after the teen drama airs its first season on The WB. The soundtrack peaks at #7 on the US albums chart.More

1999 R.E.M. appear on a scripted series for the first time when they guest on Party of Five.